Fire extinguisher



NOV. 20, 1945'. I ,.G, G, GRlswQLD ETAL 2,389,501

Filed Aug. l1, 1941 Patented Nov. 20, 1945 Fmr: EXTINGUIsnER Glenn G. Griswold andFloyd J. Lee, EastLos Y Angeles, Calif., assignors to J. Leonard Hull,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 11, 1941, Serial No.'4016,218

9 Claims.

ur invention relates to re extinguishers, such as portable types now inA use, although it is not limited thereto. v One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a fire extinguisher having separate chemicals to be mixed with a liquid solvent, and in which the chemicals are` contained in separate Asealed receptacles of novel construction and novel arrangement relative to eachother so that they may be readily and simultaneously opened or ruptured and the contents thereof emptied or deposited into the solvent.

Another important object of this invention is to provide novel means for readily opening or lriiptilring a plurality of receptacles Within a pressure container from the outside ofthe latter for emptying or depositing thecontents of the receptacles into a solvent in the container.

An important object also Yis the provision of a fire extinguisher, having a novel cartridge for holding in separated and sealed condition several chemicals, for the operation of the fire extin- 'guisher, and also for holding the means for opening, severing, or rupturing the receptacles for such chemicals.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of a fire extinguisher, all loose, movable, or removable parts of which may be easily and electively sealed so that it may not be easily tampered with or operated by unauthorized persons without breaking the seal, and further that it may be readily inspected to determine whether it has been tampered with or operated.

'A still further object of this invention is the provision of a lire extinguisher which is simple and'economical of construction proportionate to its functions,v and simple and economical to rell and operate, one in which the chemicals will not readily deteriorate, and,rtherefore, to provide a long-life fire extinguisher which need not often be renewed or inspected. Still another important object of this invention 1s to provide means or elements so constructed that they may be embodied or substituted in a conventional re extinguisher for readily converting the same into a lire extinguisher incorporating our improvements. u

An important object also of our invention is to provide a novel rell cartridge for -a fire extinguisher, 'and one which may .be readily installed by the ordinary person.

With theseand other objects insview, as will appear hereinafter, we have' devised a fire extinguisher havingcertain novel features cf ccnstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claimsy reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference there# on, which form a part of this application, in which: i

Figpl is a side 'elevation of^a fire extinguisher embodying the various features of our invention, portions being shown broken away and in section to facilitate the illustration;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing particularly the chemical containing cartridge therefor, parts of the container being also shown broken away and in section to facilitate'the illustration;

Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are transverse sectional views thereof taken respectively through 3-3, 14A- 6, 5-5, and 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 'l is a top View of curi-ire extinguisher; r

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged sections `taken through 8-8 and 5-9 of Fig. 1, showing particu'- larly the relation of the sealingmeans to parts of our iire extinguisher;` and,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged viewofthe nozzle end of the re extinguisher. f

Our fire extinguisher may be similar in appearance to the portable extinguishers now in use, except as hereinafter described. 4It is enclosed in a main container or tank I, having a discharge hose 2, which is provided at its free end with a nozzle 3, and is'connected atitsother end-to an outlet la at the upper portion ofthe container or tank l, by means of a tting 4. At the upper end of the container I isfa-fllling vopening lb, which is closed by a ring screwcap or'plate E having airing or handwheel-Sa lto facilitate the turning of the cap or plate.

Within the container is stored a supply of solvent H, which in this instance is water.

,At the upper end ofthe container l are suspended the chemicals which are `to bemixed with the water to form the re extinguishing agent. These chemicals are contained in a cartridge A,

which is carried by, and suspended from the cap 5, all of which is shown best in Fig. 2. The lower end of the cartridge extends below the surface of the water Il, and the cartridge is .so arranged inthe container I, vthat it may be easily removed and replaced by another.

The cartridge consists essentially of a readily destructable or shatterable cylindrical tube 22, in which are placed chemicals23 and 24 and a tubebreaking device 25, which is actuated, for breaking the tube, by an operating member 25.' The tube 22 is preferably made of glass and has'a metically sealed compartments withinitheftnbe 22, iby a readily destructible wad Orwall ,2 'I, which may be parailin. The upperbportioppfgthe ohepnical 24 is protected by another wad or wal128 of parain.

The tube breaking devicef25,is showneasfconsisting of a pair of bars 25e and 25", whicnare preferably parallel and pivotally connectedby links =2-5 yund which also ,may .be marailel.- breaking .rieure1 isfenolnseddnvtheitube .with thefliuksfatpaniaugulare ation. :.fuchfnosition of the links 1545c andd-fmovestheibarfs fr and 25" Aclose xtogetzher. .and tbefrvads :12'1 `:audfl atemporarily hold the bars in such position.

.Phe--balsf 5audzbfarefsofarranged than 1ongitujdinal :movement of .rene fbar -with respect V.to the othg-:r will -causerthefbarsa-to.be separated in order to break the tubefZrLoutwardlyffromiwithin.

For the -vpurpose :of :performing :such function, the -lower end of :tithe bar 125e, is .lenlarged'or 'fbifurcatedy as findieated'fby 725, and athis enlarged portion is positioned Vli-n, .engagement with -Y-the bottom of the tube. 25h is -bentlaterally-'to dorman anvil, as indi- `cated lby 225. anvil :is positioned 1in l-the path of a plunger 30y which-isfreciprocally' mounted intheaxiarportionf theeapxs. Yfrheim'ver end lof l:the .plunger is fpreferably separated from Ythe .anvil Aor arm v2-5f lby the stopper 29', as rererredfto above.

be.similar to -the corresponding cap of Lthe con- '4- ventlonal fire extinguishenisserewably mounted -a sleeve r3l, fwhichds vh eld .inplaoe by raflock nut 32 #seated against the -inner side -of the cap 5. The plunger -30 Lis -reciprocally mounted in "this sleeve. 'To -the -portion qt-the upperend of jthe sleeve 3|, which extends -above ,the vcap ,5, is

screwed a stulngbox member33, through which also extends -the plunger 30. Y 5

The 4outer or Luppr end 'of the stinging "1292i member is 'bifurcated -iforming Xears 33, between which @is upivotally :mounted 'the operating menu -ber as, Awenn in this instance f is a giefver, at the `pivoted portion `of the ,lever -26,15 provided a Acam 16a for forcing vthe ,plunger ,3,11 inwardly when the-,freeend of thejlever 261s raised. The tube `2;2 is .encased .1u a .perfurated 'casing -0r-wire rmesh 'basket 4.1 the upper end uf which is,permaueutlvsecumdto theiuuerend or underside of .theau .opnostetormrtom .Bud .Of the basket ,41 ...1S .rinsed .by Ahinged 0r .otherwise relnorabl .sauver .4.2. This Oever 1.is closed .against .the ,inner .18u51 0f the tube .2.2, but is .separated thereirqm :by a .resilient ber 43, which may be a spring, as S hoivn,or,other resilieutret- M The .perforate .11 Units lthe alumnus.,

ter t0 @nieuwe barret-,t0 dissolve @dienli- .calsrhebasketalsoeretaiuszthe maken glass The upper end of the fbar of the tube so that all of the broken glass may be removed when the cartridge is replaced.

When the plunger is forced inwardly against the stopper, the stopper is forced downwardly, tending to crush the tube 22, forcing the bar 25h downwardly and thereby forcing or shattering outwardly the side walls of the tube 22.

In order to'prevent unwarranted or Vunauthorized -tampering or operationof the fire extinguisher, we have provided an effective sealing means for the Various operating parts, which vmight be removed or damaged intentionally or otherwise to prevent their normal operation when desired or necessary.

One seal device, designated 5|, consists of a fsealingwiregtheiends of which are secured together by an authorized molded metal seal 5in,

. .whiclrmayabefreadily ruptured. The wire of this sealing device extends through or between the spokesfof the ring or handwheel 5, an eye 2Gb intermediate the endsgofthe leverl, andthrough a hole .,52u in .the threaded .end of ,thefbolt .52% which holds the clamp 52 in position. --i'If'hemut .52e for `the :bolt .52a Ymay l,be ,a castellated .nut, .and the portion ofthe 1sealing wire 5I which 4is threaded ,throughthehole 52h. alsdpasses through aligned slot `in 'the .nut v52c .to ,prevent ithe ,turning of thelatterrelatve to the sha-nk.ofthe.bolt.

The .clamp 4,52 .may .be a band. or ,hose clarnp for securing :the Yinner `end'of vthe hose 2 to-the tting'4, or it may Abefa suitable :band or'clamp secured over the permanent-or-,crimped hose irastening `means in common use, as shown.

Another sealing device y53 is vprovided -at the nozzle end. ofthe-hose. v'I'his'device alsoconsists of a gsealing wire, vthe ends. of .which i are secured together by aconventional .molded fmetal seal 53a, which 'may -`be Areadily ruptured when the nozzle is ,forceably fremoved.

-part of .fthe ylatter sealing tdevice 'consists gof a wire arm 54, whichis securedf;atfoneend tothe side of 'the Container, orfto,aj-placeflse- V cured thereto. The other end gofthe ,armfis ibent up, .as indicated by 5411. upwardly .turned portion enters the discharge opening of thedwz- ,zie 3 when the latter-,and-the -hose are initheir normal .inoperative position. The sealing :wire 53 Ais threaded rthrough an eye-.or tloop-,54vb -in1the armr54, and V4a hole 55b,vat thefendfof-abolt 1,55, which secures Ythe -hoseclamp 55 in-position,the Ahose clamp beingb zemployed gin lthis installe Vto .secure the hose 2 ,togthe in-ner end ofthernzzle 3, as shownginfFigs. land 9. flhefbolt :555.113.150 hasa castellated nut1-55, certain slots ,of :which are l also A adapted to 'be aligned-.with the ,-hole 55h The sealing wire Ywhich Eis Ytlrireaded through 'the hole ,also `passes `through such aligned vslots 4to prevent ,the :nut -from turning.

The clamp 55, also, -Amay ybe -a hose clamp fior .securing-thehose :2-to the nozzle 3, frfit imayzbe a suitable ring or other means secured=over :the permanent or crimped hose rfasteninggmeans in common use, as I shown.

Thus, all of the necessaryand operating parts are Aeilectively isealed gagainst tampering `and unauthorized use. {Ifampering .-withithese seals fmay also be readily observed by 4only Qasualinspection.

-rThe bent up .54 substantially .closesrthe nozzle opening and thereby prevents linsects or other animals from entering the hose or nozzle.

Though we have shown :and described .a -particular construction, combina/tion, .and arrangement of parts vand portions .of our fire Iextingusller.. :we donotfwish .to .be limited to the same.

but desire to include in the scope of our invention the construction, combination, and arrangement, substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A fire extinguisher, comprising a pressure container having an opening, said container being adapted to contain a solvent, a cap for the opening, a plurality of axially aligned receptacles supported by the cap in the container, a different gas-forming chemical'in each receptacle, said chemicals being capable of reacting with the solvent to create a gas, and means extending beyond the cap and into each of the receptacles for rupturing all of the latter, said means comprising a pair of spaced bars positioned in all of said receptacles, means for forcing said bars apart for breakingT said receptacles from within, an operating member extending through the cap for actuating the last mentioned means.

2. A fire extinguisher, comprising a pressure container having an opening, said container being adapted lto contain a solvent, a cap Vfor the opening, a plurality of axially aligned receptacles supported by the cap in the container, a diner ent gas-forming chemical in each receptacle, said chemicals being capable of reacting with the solvent to create a gas, and means extending beyond the cap and into each of the receptacles for rupturing all of the latter, said means compris- 9 ing a pair of spaced substantially parallel bars, links pivotally connecting the bars, one of the bars engaging the bottom of the lcwermost receptacle and the other bar extending upwardly toward the cap, and an operating member extending through the cap for forcing the last mentioned bar downwardly, and thereby forcing said bars apart for breaking said receptacles from Within.

3. A lre extinguisher, comprising a pressure container, a plurality of axially aligned receptacles supported in the container, a different chemical in each receptacle, and means within the container and extending into each of the receptacles, said means comprising a pair of spaced bars positioned in all of said receptacles, means for forcing said bars apart for breaking said receptacles from within, and an operating member extending into said container from without for actuating the last mentioned means.

4. A lire extinguisher, comprising a pressure container, a plurality of axially aligned receptacles supported in the container, a different chemical ineach receptacle, and means Within the container and extending into each of the receptacles, said means comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel bars, links pivotally connecting the bars, one of the bars engaging the bottom of the lower-most receptacle and the other bar extending upwardly toward the cap, and an operating member extending into said container from without for forcing the last mentioned bar downwardly, and thereby forcing said bars apart for breaking said receptacles from within.

5. A re extinguisher, comprising a container having an opening, a removable cap for the opening, and a chemical-containing cartridge within the container, said cartridge being attached to the inside of the cap, said cartridge being insertable through the opening into the container While attached to the cap, said cartridge containing diierent hermetically sealed chemicals, and means extending through the cap for releasing the chemicals from the cartridge into the container.

6. A nre extinguisher, comprising a pressure container having an opening, a cap for the openinl a receptacle supported by the cap within the container, a chemical adapted to be contained in the receptacle, and means extending beyond the cap and into the receptacle for rupturing the same, said means comprising a pair of spaced bars positioned in said receptacle, means for forcing said bars apart for breaking said receptacle from within, and an operating means extending through the cap for actuating the last mentioned means.

7. A fire extinguisher, comprising a pressure container having an opening, a cap for the opening, a receptacle supported by the cap within the container, said receptacle adapted to contain a chemical, and means extending beyond the cap and into the Said receptacle for rupturing the same, said means comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel bars, links connecting the bars, one bar engaging the bottom of the receptacle, the other bar extending upwardly toward the cap, and an operating member extending through the cap for forcing the last mentioned bar downwardly and thereby forcing said bars apart for breaking said receptacle from within.

8. A fire extinguisher, comprising a pressure container, a receptacle supported in the container, a chemical adapted to be contained in the receptacle, and means for rupturing said receptacle, said means comprising a pair of spaced bars positioned in said receptacle, means for forcing said bars apart for breaking said recep- 1 tacle from within, and an operating member extending into said container from without for actuating the last mentioned means.

9. A re extinguisher, comprising a pressure container, a receptacle supported' in the container, a chemical adapted to be contained in the receptacle, and means for rupturing said receptacle, said means comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel bars, links pivotally connecting the bars, one of the bars engaging the bottom of the receptacle, and the other bar extending upwardly beyond the top of the receptacle and toward the top of the container, and an operating member extending into said container from without for forcing the last mentioned bar downwardly and thereby forcing said .bars apart and breaking said receptacle from within.

GLENN G. GRISWOLD. FLOYD J. LEE. 

